Picking out the best school for your child shouldn’t be a stressful ordeal, but you can get ahead of the crowd in researching early. Many schools have pros and cons to look into and they will all ride on your child’s success. In this guide from an international school in the UK, we look at some top tips to picking out the right school for your child.
Choosing a School
Assess all options
Whether you’re looking at an independent school or a prep school located just a bit further out or weighing up the options for the best secondary school in your area, it’s better to exhaust all your options now while you can. Not only are you getting a headstart from other parents looking at school choices for their children, but you’re also making the most informed decision you can at the time.
Look at transportation links
For most children heading into secondary school, you can look at public transport options or services the schools themselves provide. If you’re at a primary school, most parents opt for walking routes as a matter of convenience, but it’s not always possible. Alternatively, if you’re around each morning and afternoon you can find the best ways for you to pick up and drop your child to school. Schools at the time of closing and opening are the busiest times for parents so it’s important you’re prepared.
Ask around
Your biggest level of research is going to come from the other parents and support you get from around you. A lot of your neighbours will have gone through the same thought process as you’re going through, making them ideal candidates to talk through what they did and how they chose the best school for their child.
You can also chat to other parents at your child’s current school or nursery. Gauge where the majority of children are headed – it may help your child in their first few weeks if they recognise who they’re going to their new school with.
Check exam scores
Arguably one of the bigger factors is how much support your child is going to receive, what they are going to get out of their time at school and how they perform in future exams. You want a child that is given the most options and direction from teachers as they can – it’s a big part of your child’s future after all!
Thankfully a lot of resources to find out how each school performs can be found online. There are public rankings of how students perform at GCSE and A Level each year, as well as success rates from primary schools and prep schools.
If you have any tips for choosing a school then we’d love to hear them!
*Collaborative post
About Debz Louise
Debz Louise is a UK-based lifestyle expert and the founder of several lifestyle blogs. Specialising in everything from interior design and home renovation to body-positive fashion and parenting, Debz brings a wealth of hands-on experience to every guide. Her mission at Stereotude is to simplify the modern world for her readers through expert curation and fiercely honest advice.